Litvinenko investigation gains momentum

British detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of the former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko. Andrey Lugovoy, who met Litvinenko in November, is among the people they're expected to question.

It's not clear how long it might take Scotland Yard investigators, who arrived in Moscow yesterday, to do their work, but according to the Russian foreign ministry, the SO15 team will have visas for as long as necessary.

Andrey Lugovoy has confirmed he is ready to talk to Scotland Yard. He spoke to Russia Today exclusively from a Moscow hospital, where he's undergoing tests for radiation poisoning.

“I'll talk to British investigators when they want me to. My lawyer says there are certain international procedures, according to which I should be correctly invited and then my evidence will be documented. I don't like the way the British press involved me in the case, but I can't comment more on it now, before I talk to the police,” he said.

Meanwhile friends of Litvinenko are urging the British investigators to question another ex-agent, Mikhail Trepashkin, saying he holds “key evidence” in the case, and they say his life is now in danger.